Finding Text
Finding Reference: 2022-004 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Lower Income Housing Assistance Program ? Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Assistance Listing Number: 14.856 Federal Grant Number: Not Applicable Category of Finding: Special Tests and Provisions (Housing Quality Standards Inspections) Classification of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Instance of Noncompliance Criteria Pursuant to 24 CFR 882.516(b), the Authority is required to perform periodic inspection on each dwelling unit under contract at least annually and at such other times as needed to ensure the owner is meeting the obligations to maintain the unit in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and to provide the agreed upon utilities and other services. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with broad authority to waive or establish alternative requirements for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab) Program administered by the Office of Housing Voucher Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH). HUD waived the annual inspection requirement and allowed public housing authorities to delay the annual inspections for Mod Rehab units by no later than 1 year from the date on which the annual inspection would have been required in the absence of a waiver. Condition During our audit we selected a statistically valid sample of 17 participants out of a total population of 77 active program participants and identified 1 participant for which the Authority did not complete the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections by the due date. Cause of Condition As a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) health emergency, the Health Officer of the City and County of San Francisco (City) issued a public health order requiring that residents remain in place, with the only exception being for essential needs, effective March 17, 2020. In response to the City?s public health order and to protect the safety of its employees and clients, the Authority implemented administrative reliefs and waivers issued by HUD, and temporarily suspended all annual HQS inspections until late 2021. The requirement to perform inspections that were postponed from prior years and those that became due in the current year resulted in additional constraints to staffing resources. Effect Housing Assistance Payments (HAPs) may be paid on dwelling units that do not meet safety and other requirements. Questioned Costs Known questioned costs include $9,216 of HAPs for the months for which compliance with HQS requirements are questioned. Projecting the known questioned costs from the sample of 17 participants that totaled $155,483 in HAPs to the total HAPs of $706,873 for the year, results in likely questioned costs of $41,899. Identification of Repeat Finding This is a repeat of finding 2021-001 reported for the year ended September 30, 2021. Recommendation The Authority should correct the deficiencies noted in the sampled participant files and consider the impact of the audit results over the entire population. In addition, the Authority should develop procedures, systems and controls to ensure the required HQS inspections are conducted in a timely manner, and should take measures to improve its internal record retention and filing systems. Furthermore, staff needs to be continually trained and cross-trained on the rules and regulations to properly administer HQS inspections in accordance with HUD requirements. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action See separately prepared Corrective Action Plan.